shims?

[red dirt squirt]

well guys, i lifted my 40 this weekend and i believe the drive shaft angle is a bit too severe. i have only test driven the cruiser 1 time down the block and back because the brake lines are holding on for dear life and i didn't have the time to get to them this weekend. i didnt hear any vibrations, how do i know if i need shims or if i need to lengthen the drive shaft.

 

[CruisinGA]

With only 4" lift you do not need to lengthen D-shaft.

I found that my rear pinion angle is just fine, I just needed to add 2.5 degree shims up front to correct caster.

Really what you should do is measure pinion angles f + r before lift and then use shims to match stock after lift. Since you've already done your lift, and if you don't trust your own judgement, get someone with stock suspension to measure pinion angle for you.

 

[woody]

$10 angle gauge from Home Depot or wherever will work wonders...round, with a flat mag base, about 4" round dial.

vibrations are not heard, they are felt....in the hands = steering issues, in the butt/seat = driveline

 

[Rice]

Like Woody says. If you feel it then angle changes are needed. An angle finder is a nice tool to have.

The sole goal for shim adjustment on the rear is to MATCH u-joint angles at the front of the driveshaft with the angle at the rear (Unless you use a CV shaft). In the front you wish to get the correct caster as well as driveline angles.

Go to : http://www.4xshaft.com

and read their Driveline Geometry 101 section in the tech articles. Good info.

Rice

 

[red dirt squirt]

well i must say that the vibrations im getting start about midway through second gear and can be felt through the seat and not the steering wheel. the vibrations sound like clicking and occur about once every second. i haven't gotten the courage to take it up to third gear yet and i probably won't until i do something about my driveshaft angle. as i understand napa has brass shims but i dont know how good they are or where to get shims for that matter

 

[CruisinGA]

There is nothing wrong with the brass shims, they are better than the aluminum ones many cruiser vendors sell online. you probably will need to get new spring pins and use some small pipe or tube to space up the head so it is long enough to go all the way through the shim and the spring mount.

 

[Robert LaDuke]

There is some good info on shims at the bottom of this SOR page.

http://www.sor.com/sor/cat287.tam?xax=987&page.ctx=cat287.tam

 

[red dirt squirt]

yeah that's just what i was looking for. thanks man

 

[PabloCruise]

Squirt,
Where did you get your brake lines?

 

[CruisinGA]

I don't know where squirt got his, but

Skyjacker sells extended SS braided lines. $40 apiece I believe. I have one in the rear of my truck.

 

[PabloCruise]

Perfect, thanks GA!